"What was with that old man's final remark? Tsk, he's far too devoted to his mother."
Watching the Sage of Six Paths disappear, Seiryū could not help clicking his tongue.
Then, thinking about Kaguya, he grinned.
"Still, Kaguya can't really be considered irredeemably evil."
"More importantly, she's genuinely beautiful. She is a goddess, after all."
Seiryū actually liked Kaguya quite a bit.
She was a genuine goddess, and her cold, noble appearance naturally stirred a desire to conquer her.
Compared to fighting and killing, wouldn't it be better to bring her over to their side?
In any case, Kaguya truly could not be considered completely beyond redemption.
Even if she had made mistakes in the past, she had already been imprisoned for so long. Couldn't that be considered atonement?
Most importantly, Kaguya had never harmed the people of this era.
She could still be considered innocent in that regard.
As long as she changed her ways, she could be forgiven.
In other words, she could still be saved!
Hadn't Shido Itsuka used this exact method of conquest to save the world?
Seiryū could follow his example. This was about saving the shinobi world and protecting its people!
Of course, in truth, Seiryū had mainly used the idea as leverage while negotiating with the Sage of Six Paths, hoping to make him hand over the Six Paths Yin and Yang Powers.
But what had Hagoromo meant with his final words?
Was he really giving Seiryū permission to pursue his mother?
That was far too devoted!
Still, if Seiryū could use this method to ensure Kaguya no longer posed a threat, then he felt duty-bound to try.
That was right.
He was simply that benevolent!
"Forget it. I should return before they start worrying."
Without thinking about it any further, Seiryū prepared to leave.
He released the Spirit Transformation Technique, and his figure gradually blurred before disappearing completely.
Back in the Forest of Death, Seiryū's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened.
He examined his body and, after finding nothing unusual, muttered, "So I returned directly to my physical body."
Seeing Seiryū awaken, Tsunade immediately asked, "How is your body? Nothing happened, right?"
Seiryū moved his limbs and smiled.
"Nothing at all. The Sage of Six Paths was surprisingly easy to talk to. He entrusted both the shinobi world and his mother to me."
"?"
Question marks seemed to appear above everyone's heads.
What did that mean?
Sasuke appeared thoughtful.
"Kaguya is indeed someone we must remain wary of. If she were resurrected, defeating her would be extremely difficult. We could only seal her using Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei."
He had already explained what happened during the Fourth Shinobi World War in his timeline.
Everyone present knew about Kaguya.
Seiryū spoke with a serious expression.
"Sealing isn't the only option. There are other methods."
Sasuke's eyes sharpened.
"You have a way to kill Kaguya? Can that method also be used against other members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan?"
"In theory, yes, but it depends on their gender."
"?"
Sasuke did not understand.
"Gender? What does gender have to do with it?"
"Because the Sage of Six Paths feels guilty toward his mother, Kaguya, he wants her to experience love and the beauty of life."
Seiryū explained with a straight face.
"So he entrusted me with using love to help Kaguya change her ways."
"Kaguya is a woman, so I don't mind making a small sacrifice. As for the other members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, I'm not interested in men, so you can deal with them."
"?"
Everyone wore a confused expression.
The Sage of Six Paths wanted Seiryū to show Kaguya love and the beauty of life, then use that love to reform her?
What kind of request was that?
"Sacrifice yourself?"
As a woman, Tsunade immediately understood what he was implying, and her expression darkened.
"Are you saying the Sage of Six Paths asked you to let Kaguya experience love and the beauty of life?"
"It isn't the kind of love and beauty I'm thinking of, is it?"
"I don't know what kind of love and beauty you're imagining, but the Sage of Six Paths was probably thinking about his mother's future."
Seiryū looked puzzled.
"He believes that after allowing his mother to experience love and the beauty of the world, she may change her ways."
"What a devoted son!"
"I don't fully understand it either, but since he entrusted the task to me and I accepted his reward, I naturally have to try."
Seiryū sighed.
The responsibility on his shoulders felt so heavy that it nearly bent his spine.
However, since he had accepted the reward and Hagoromo had placed such high expectations on him, Seiryū had no choice but to try, no matter how difficult the task might be.
That was exactly how it was!
Everyone exchanged glances.
This was far too strange.
They did not understand, but they were deeply shocked.
Sasuke, in particular, was completely stunned.
This was nothing like what he had imagined.
The Sage of Six Paths in his timeline had never spoken to them about anything like this!
Tsunade stared at Seiryū with killing intent in her eyes, yet forced a smile.
"Is that really what happened, or are you the one with ulterior motives?"
The moment she saw his righteous expression, she knew he was talking nonsense.
Now this brat had even set his sights on the Progenitor of Chakra, Kaguya?
"Don't slander me."
Seiryū defended himself and produced his evidence, the Six Paths Yin and Yang Powers.
"Look. This is the reward the Sage of Six Paths gave me!"
"To be fair, he's quite devoted. For the sake of his mother's future, he even handed over his own inheritance."
"I couldn't refuse. You all know how valuable this power is. Now that I've accepted it, I have to do my best!"
Ignoring a few minor details, Hagoromo had indeed entrusted both the shinobi world and his mother to Seiryū.
Hagoromo was so wise. How could Seiryū possibly have misunderstood him?
There was no mistake at all!
"Let me make sure I understand."
Looking at the black and white spheres of Chakra in Seiryū's hands, Tsunade rubbed her temples as though she had developed a headache.
"The Sage of Six Paths wants you to date his mother, Kaguya?"
"And then use love and the beauty of life to reform her?"
Seiryū nodded.
"That's exactly right."
"Right, my ass!"
Tsunade's mouth twitched.
She narrowed her eyes and looked Seiryū up and down.
"Do you think we're all fools? That we would believe something like that?"
"And wipe that righteous expression off your face. Whenever you look like that, I know you're talking nonsense!"
The Sage of Six Paths had asked Seiryū to do something so absurd?
She would sooner believe a pig could climb a tree!
Did she not know what kind of personality this brat had?
He definitely had ulterior motives.
Now he had even set his sights on Kaguya.
How did he dare?
"Actually, it isn't entirely impossible."
Sasuke spoke at that moment.
"If Kaguya could truly change her ways, her strength could be used against the other members of the Ōtsutsuki Clan who may appear in the future."
"Perhaps the Sage of Six Paths considered that possibility. The threat posed by the Ōtsutsuki Clan beyond the stars is considerable."
He could not help recalling how Naruto's Sexy Jutsu had successfully stunned Kaguya.
Apparently, Kaguya was not completely indifferent to matters of attraction.
Assuming she could truly be convinced to change and abandon her intention of taking back everyone's Chakra, that would also benefit the shinobi world.
The Ōtsutsuki Clan had descended upon Sasuke's timeline, so they would likely appear in this one as well.
Kaguya was also a powerful combatant, one no one could afford to overlook.
Perhaps that was why the Sage of Six Paths had made a different choice in this timeline.
Of course, that depended on whether Kaguya could truly be reformed.
To be honest, Sasuke felt that accomplishing that would be even more difficult than sealing her.
Seiryū gave Sasuke a thumbs-up, his voice filled with admiration.
"So that's the reason. As expected of someone who once stood at the summit of the shinobi world in another timeline. I admire you."
"I knew it. The Sage of Six Paths has lived for so many years. He wouldn't have said something like that without reason."
"I simply failed to consider the deeper implications."
To be fair, Sasuke's reasoning was very convincing.
At the very least, Seiryū could not find any flaws in it!
Sasuke fell silent.
He had the strong feeling that Seiryū was merely using his explanation to justify whatever thoughts were already in his head.
"The threat from the Ōtsutsuki Clan is indeed difficult to handle. The main problem is that we don't know when they will arrive."
Minato did not think too deeply about Seiryū's intentions and instead focused on the danger posed by the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
"They appeared in another timeline, so there's a high chance they will appear in this one as well."
His expression became solemn.
"After all, they came for Kaguya and the Tailed Beasts."
Minato had learned a great deal about the Ōtsutsuki Clan from Sasuke.
They had come for the traitor Kaguya and would eventually descend upon the shinobi world.
Considering the safety of the shinobi world and his concern for his mother, perhaps it was understandable that the Sage of Six Paths would make such a request of Seiryū.
There was at least some possibility.
Nagato also gave his opinion.
"I believe Minato-senpai's reasoning has merit."
Jiraiya looked at Seiryū and could not help giving him a thumbs-up.
'This brat is truly fearless. He actually dared to say something like that in front of Tsunade. His courage is unmatched.'
Regardless of whether Seiryū's words were true, or whether he had some hidden intention, Jiraiya still admired his courage.
To say such things in front of his future partner, especially someone like Tsunade, required extraordinary bravery.
In that regard, Jiraiya was willing to call Seiryū the strongest!
However, Tsunade was far too lenient with him.
Her tolerance for Seiryū seemed limitless, and she had apparently already accepted that he also liked other women.
Was this really the Tsunade Jiraiya remembered?
She had changed so much that she barely seemed like the same person.
Ignoring the others' discussion, Seiryū walked over to Tsunade and handed her the Six Paths Yang Power.
"This is for you. You should be the most suitable person to use it."
"If you can fully master this power, you may become stronger than Great-grandfather in his prime. No, you should definitely surpass him!"
Tsunade possessed the bloodlines of both the Senju and Uzumaki Clans, had awakened Wood Style, and had mastered Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu.
She was undoubtedly the most suitable person to inherit Yang Power.
The Senju Clan, the Uzumaki Clan, Wood Style, and Senjutsu were all closely connected to Yang Release Chakra.
Seiryū suspected that the ultimate form of Yang Release might be Yang Power, the manifestation of a Sage Body.
If Tsunade obtained Yang Power, her strength might surpass Hashirama at his peak.
She might even approach the Six Paths level!
Looking at the Yang Power in Seiryū's hand, Tsunade shook her head.
"I don't need it. You're more suited to it than I am. The stronger you become, the better our chances of victory."
She had also learned about the Six Paths Yin and Yang Powers from Sasuke.
Sasuke's Rinnegan had been awakened through Yin Power.
This power could directly increase a person's strength.
Tsunade believed it would be better for Seiryū to use it.
He was Konoha's strongest shinobi, and making him even stronger would give them a greater advantage.
"I don't need it. I have a way to obtain Yang Power on my own."
Seiryū smiled.
"Besides, only by becoming stronger can you help me and fight beside me. We have quite a few enemies to face. We can't rely on me alone, can we?"
"Your own Yang Power? Through the Senjutsu of the Three Great Sage Regions?"
Tsunade remembered what Seiryū had once told her.
"You said Sage Mode is an application of Yang Release Chakra, and combining the Senjutsu of all three Sage Regions could produce Yang Power?"
"If my theory is correct, yes."
Tsunade remained silent for two seconds before smiling.
"Fine. Give it to me."
"After all, I'm the Hokage, while you're merely a Hokage Assistant who hasn't even assumed his position yet. How could I place all the pressure on you?"
"Anyone who didn't know better might think I, the Hokage, was exploiting you."
"Even if you were exploiting me, there would be nothing I could do. You've already trapped me completely."
Seiryū feigned exhaustion.
"I can only occasionally do things that annoy you. I simply can't leave you."
"Save those sweet words for Kaguya."
Tsunade glared at him.
"You're becoming more and more daring. You actually intend to provoke a woman of that level?"
"Look, you're getting upset again. I'm clearly protecting the shinobi world. This is all the Sage of Six Paths' fault. My reputation is being ruined!"
"Hehe. Hand it over!"
Tsunade sneered and snatched the Yang Power from Seiryū's hand.
After examining it for a moment, she glared at him.
"Just wait until I become stronger. I'll beat you to death!"
"You're the one who ruined my reputation!"
"You're being unreasonable!"
Seiryū laughed.
"And don't say I didn't warn you. Even after obtaining Yang Power, you still won't surpass me."
"At most, you'll become strong enough to fight beside me."
Tsunade fell silent.
This brat was becoming more monstrous by the day.
How exactly did he train?
No matter how exceptional his talent was, it should not have been possible for him to become this strong.
He definitely possessed some secret.
However, Tsunade could not be bothered to ask.
Seiryū would be hers for the rest of his life. It was impossible for him to do anything that would harm her.
Knowing that was enough.
Turning the Yang Power over in her hand, Tsunade noticed that it felt pleasantly warm.
She looked at Seiryū.
"How do I use this?"
Seiryū blinked.
After thinking for a moment, he answered uncertainly.
"Eat it like a dango?"
He did not know either.
There was no instruction manual.
That Sage of Six Paths was really irresponsible. How were they supposed to use it without instructions?
Tsunade fell silent.
She looked toward Sasuke.
"Sasuke, how do I use this?"
Sasuke had also received power from the Sage of Six Paths, so he should know how it worked.
In any case, Tsunade was somewhat reluctant to swallow it like dango.
(To be continued.)